Mowing-machine



No. 750,827. PATENTED FEB. 2, 1904.

S. K. DENNIS.

MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. 1900.

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PATENTED FEB. 2, 1904.

3. K. DENNIS.

MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1900.

11 SHIJETS-SHEET 2.

H0 KODEL.

flmrzae/ 11 2677 77 d6 g%m@ No. 750.827. PATENTED FEB. 2, 1904. s. K.DENNIS. MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1900.

NO MODEL.

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PATENTED FEB. 2, 1904.

S. K. DENNIS.

MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1900.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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mums Pzrzns co No. 750,827. PATENTED FEB. 2, 1904.

S. K. DENNIS. MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. 1900.

N0 MODEL. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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No. 750,827. PATBNTED FEB. 2, 1904.- s. K. DENNIS.

MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1900. N0 MODEL. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

' IIIIIl'lIlI WW5! w THE NORR S PATENTED FEB. 2, 1904.

S. K DENNIS.

MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. 1900.

11 SHEETS-$11331 7.

N0 MODEL.

firm? for Jamar/K562721115 No. 750,827. PATENTED FEB. 2, 1904. S. K.DENNIS.

MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1900.

11 SHEETS-$11321 8.

N0 MODEL.

W W W J V all d; Y 0 0 0 0 0 r0 o vw oV/o n obb No. 750,827. PATENTEDFEB. 2, 1904.-

S. K. DENNIS.

MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1900. N0 MODE-. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

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PATENTBD FEB. 2, 1904.

S. K. DENNIS.

' MOWING MACHINE.

PPLIGATION FILED 2a 190 mm; i V W h w wmvw No. 750,827. PATENTED FEB. 2,1904.

s. K. DENNIS. MOWING-MAOHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1900. R0 MODEL. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

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UNTTEn STATES Patented February 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL K. DENNIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PLANOMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MOWlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 750,827, dated.February 2, 1904.

Application filed July 28, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL K. DENNIS, a resident of Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

.My invention is concerned, first, with the draft appliances ofmowing-machines and is designed to produce a draft apparatus which willautomatically divide the draft in proper proportions between the mainframe of the machine and the cutting apparatus pivoted thereto, so as toneutralize the tendency to side draft caused by the location of thecutting apparatus at one side of the machine. To procure this result, Iemploy a floating equalizing-bar or lever-z'.'e., one having some or allof its bearing-points capable of movement to automatically vary thepower applied through it to the parts to which it is connectedwhich is anovel element in the art and which furnishes the automatic adjustmentrequired by reason of the fact that while it is centrally connected tothe draft mechanism its ends are so connected to the main frame and tothe cutting apparatus, respectively, that it is capable of adjustingitself automatically with respect to these parts, so as to correctlyproportion the amount of draft that shall be given to each.

Another feature of my invention is the connection of the compensatingspring to the lifting-crankat one end and to the draft mechanism at theother end, both of which are in turn connected to the cutting apparatus,so that the effect of the spring is to lift the cutting apparatus bothat its front and at its rear ends, thus making a lighter draft for saidcutting apparatus than has been possible heretofore where thecompensating spring was connected to the cutting apparatus at only oneend, as that connected to the lifting-crank.

Another feature of my invention is the novel form of adjustable pivotalconnections between the coupling-frame and the fingerbar by which theangular relations thereof can be changed to take up any wear betweenthem and to keep the finger-bar in proper Serial No. 25,111. (No model.)

alinement with the pitman-rod, which operates the cutter-bar.

Another feature of my invention is the specific connections employedbetween the lifting-crank and the finger-bar by which the movement ofthe lifting-crank serves to raise the finger-bar to bring it to verticalposition when desired, as is the practice in what are known as verticallift mowing-machines.

Another feature of my invention is the connections between thehand-lever and the notched segment with which it cooperates by which anyviolent movement of the hand-lever is prevented under the stress of thecompensating spring in case the connections between the lifting-crankand the finger-bar or cutting apparatus should be broken.

Another feature of my invention is the specific mechanism employed forthrowing the driving-gear automatically out of action when thefinger-bar is raised.

Another feature is the mechanism for throwing the gearing out of actionwhenever it is desired.

Still other features of my invention are certain specific combinationsof elements for purposes not enumerated above, but which will bespecifically pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which the samereference characters designate identical parts in all the figures,Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 2 is an elevation of thestubble side of the machine with the driving-wheels omitted and someother parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction.Figs. 3 and A are a plan view and side elevation, respectively, of thedetachable pitman-bearing cup. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the machinewith a portion of the axle and frame broken away and in section, to moreclearly disclose the construction of some of the parts. Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of a portion of the machine, showing the position of the partswhen the sickle-bar is in horizontal position. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are aplan View, front elevation, and rear elevation, respectively, of theinner-shoe connection. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but with theparts moved to bring the finge bar into a vertical position. Fig. 11 isa rear elevation similar to Fig. 5, but with the grainside wheel omittedand the parts in the same position as in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a plan viewof a portion of the machine with the fingerbar and sickle in place,showing how their positions can be adjusted. Fig. 13 is a sectionthrough the finger-bar on the line A A of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a sectionon the line B B of Fig. 5. Fig. 15 is an end elevation of a portion ofthe frame. Fig. 16 is an enlarged plan view, partly in section, of aportion of the mechanism for throwing the sickle out of operation whenthe finger-bar is raised from horizontal position. Fig. 17 is a detailin section on the line C C of Fig. 16. Fig.18 is a side elevation of thelifting-crank. Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the segment and hearingfor the lifting-crank. Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail view, in rearelevation, showing the operation of the finger-bar-lifting segments withsome of the mechanism broken away to more clearly disclose theoperation. Fig. 21 is a plan view of the same mechanism. Fig. 22 is asectional View on the line D D of Fig. 20. Fig. 23 is a front elevationof the lifting-gear segment detached from the inner shoe to which it issecured. Fig. 24 is a front elevation in section on the line E E of Fig.26, showing the details of the mechanism for adjusting the position ofthe finger-bar. Fig. 25 is a similar view, but with the parts ad justedto another position. 26 is a sectional view of the same parts on theline F F of Fig. 24, but with the parts adjusted to the dotted-lineposition of said figure. Fig. 27 is a rear elevation detached of theadjusting eccentric shown in Figs. 24 to 26. Fig. 28 is a detail view insection on the line G G of Fig. 1. Fig. 29 is a view of the samemechanism in section on the line H H of Fig. 28; and Fig. 30 is a planview in section, on an enlarged scale, approximately on the line 30 30of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that, as is customary in thesemachines, there are two driving-wheels 31, which are secured by thecustomary one-way clutch mechanism (not shown) to the axle 32, extendingbetween said wheels and journaled in the tubular portion 33 of the mainframe 34. This main frame 34 has projecting rearwardly from the tubularportion 33 the flanged projection 35, which furnishes the seat to whichthe lower end of the seat-spring 36 is secured in the customary manner.Projecting forwardly from the tubular portion 33 is the flangedprojection 37, whichforms the seat to which the inner end of the tongue38 is bolted in the customary manner. Secured to and forming a portionof the main frame is another elongated tubular bearing 39 at the stubbleside of the machine and in a plane just below that of the tubularportion 33 and arranged at right angles thereto. This bearing 39 hasmounted therein the eccentric-shaft 40, (see Fig. 30,) the rear end ofwhich has secured thereto the bevel gear-pinion 41, which meshes withthe bevel gear-wheel 42, which is mounted upon the bearing-shaft 43, oneend of which is supported in the tubular bearing 44, projectingrearwardly from the main frame, and the other reduced end 43 of whichhas secured thereon the cap-plate 45, which covers and protects thegear-pinion 46, which is formed integral with the sleeve 47,constituting the hub of the gear-wheel 42. The cap-plate 45 is formedwith the long curved extension 48, the other end of which is providedwith the lug 49, by which it is secured, by means of the bolt 50, to thetubular bearing 39 of the main frame. This extension 48 is of such awidth and curve as to fit snugly over the teeth of the lower portion ofthe internally-toothed gear-wheel 51, which consists of the rim 52,having the gearteeth on the inner side thereof meshing with thegear-pinion 46, and the hub 53, mounted upon the axle 32 between thecollar 54 and the sliding clutch member 55, which is splined upon theshaft 32 in the customary manner. The rim 52 and the hub 53 areconnected by the spokes 56, which I preferably make of the design shownin Fig. 30, and the right-hand end of the hub 53 has formed thereon theratchet-teeth forming the stationary clutch member and adapted to engagewith the similar-shaped teeth of the sliding clutch member 55. Thegear-pinion 41 and the gear-wheel 42 are protected by the casing 57which consists principally of the shallow cup-shaped portion 58,covering the gear-wheel 42, and the smaller but deeper cup-like portion59, covering the gear-pinion 41, and the sleeve-like portion 60,surrounding the hub of the gear-wheel 42 and by which it is supportedfrom the arm 44.

From the construction thus shown it will be seen that as the machine ismoved forward if the clutch is in operation the gear-wheel 51, meshingwith the gear pinion 46, will, by means of the bevel gear-wheel 42 andthe bevelpinion 41, impart a rapid rotation to the eccentric-shaft 40.This construction with the interiorly-toothed gear-wheel secures acertain and powerful engagement between the gear-wheel and thegear-pinion and one in which there is no tendency to separate theintermeshing members as the strain upon the parts is increased. As willbe pointed out farther on on page 5, the action of this drivingmechanism is opposed to the draft applied to the frame, so that theopposing thrusts tend to cause the tongue of the machine to remain inany position to which it may be adjusted for draft purposes.

The forward end of the tubular bearing 39 has secured to the under sidethereof the pitman-bearing cup 61, which, as will be best seen from thedetails in Figs. 3 and 4, consists of a short semicylindrical portion62, which has the flanges 63 at either side thereof provided with theapertures through which the bolts 64 pass to secure the cup to thecorresponding and oppositely-disposed lugs 65, formed on the end of thetubular bearing 39. The eccentric-shaft 40 passes through thissemicylindrical portion 62 and has loosely mounted thereon between theend of said portion and the eccentric-disk 66, which terminates theshaft, the collar 67, provided with the arm 68, having its hollow endinteriorly screw-threaded to receive the main arm 69 of thecoupling-frame. To prevent any tendency to displacement of the collar 67and possible binding against the rotating eccentricdisk 66, 1 form thelug 70 on the under side of the collar 67 and 1 form the short segmentalchannel 71 in the bottom of the cup 61 in position to cooperate withthis lug 7 0, so as to prevent any lateral movement of the collar, whileat the same time permitting it to swing about the shaft 40 as an aXis sofar as may be necessary to permit of the customary movement of thecoupling-frame. The main portion 72 of the cup 61 is substantiallysemicylindrical in shape and is of a sufficient size to receive theeccentric-disk 66 and permit its free rotation therein, together withits eccentrically-located bearing pin 73, upon which the collar 74 isjournaled, to which the inner end of the pitman 75 is pivotally securedin the customary manner. The regular contour of the side of the mainportion 72-of the pitman-bearing cup is broken by the notch 76, formedtherein to permit the passage of the pitman in its swinging movement,and it is provided at its forward end with an aperture 7 7, throughwhich the curved end of the pitman guard-rod 7 8 passes, the other endof said rod being secured to the inner-shoe-connecting piece 79, (showndetached in Figs. 7 to 9 of the drawings) which is secured to the otherend of the rod 69. The brace-rod 80, constituting the other arm of thecoupling-frame, is pivotally secured to the under 'side of the tubularportion 33 of the frame, as indicated by the dotted lines at 81 in Fig.1, and its other end is screwed into an offset 82, formed on the lowerend of the rod 69. The inner-shoe connection 79, as best seen in Figs. 1and 6 to 9, consists of the hollow cylindrical portion 83, through whichthe lower end of the rod 69 passes and to which it is secured by the cap84, (see Fig. 21,) having the flange 85 secured thereto by the pin 86,passing through ears formed on said cap and through the end of the rod.The yoke-shaped portion 87 of this inner-shoe connection terminates inthe eyes 88 and 89,which cooperate with the pins 90 and 91,respectively, by which the connection is pivotally secured to theeyepieces 92 and 93, respectively, on the inner shoe 94. As will be seenfrom Fig. 22, the rear pivotal connection is of the ordinaryconstruction; but the front connection, as best shown in Figs. 24 to 27,is of a somewhat different construction in order to provide for theadjustment of the outer end of the finger-bar if it is desired toadvance it to compensate for the wear of the parts. The bearing-pin 91instead of passing into a correspondingly-sized bearing in the eyepiece93 passes into the eccentrically-located bearingaperture in theadjusting-sleeve 95, which consists of the cylindrical body portion 96,provided with the flange 97, which has the three notches 98, 99, anddisposed therein at distances of substantially ninety degrees apart,together with the lug 101, which is formed opposite the central notch.The eye 93 has the cylindrical aperture 102 formed therein, which is ofa diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the cylinder 96,which is fitted to rotate therein, and the bottom part of the shoe 94has formed thereon and projecting upward therefrom the rectangular lug103, which is of a shape to cooperate with one of the notches 98, 99, or100, depending upon the position of adjustment of the parts. As themachine is first adjusted the parts are placed in the position shown inFig. 24, in which it will be seen that the location of the eccentricadjusting-sleeve will throw the outer end of the sickle substantially inthe position shown by the full lines in Fig. 12. After a certain amountof wear has taken place the eccentric adjusting-sleeve is moved to theposition shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 24, this being the positionof the parts shown in the section constituting Fig. 26, where theadjustment is such as to bring the finger-bar to a position half-waybetween that shown by the full lines and the dotted lines in Fig. 12,while upon further wear the sleeve can be adjusted to the position shownin Fig. 25, where it would occupy the dotted-line position, pro- IOOvided there had been no wear on the parts.

Of course it will be understood that in making this adjustment thecotter-pin 104 is removed and the pin 91 slid out suificiently to permitthe adjusting-sleeve 94 to be also slid forward enough to disengage itsnotch from the lug 103, after which it can be adjusted to any of thepositions desired.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, it will be seen that instead of thefinger-bar being plain in cross-section I have made it curved downwardlyat its rear edge, this construction being advantageous from the factthat by the use of the same weight of metal I am enabled to produce afinger-bar that offers greater resistance to bending strains than if thecustomary construction is employed.

To tilt the shoe, and consequently the finger-bar, to any desired angle,I employ a tilting-lever 105, which, as will be seen from Figs. 5, 6,14, and 15, is bolted in the channel 106, formed in the metallic bearing107 for said lever, which bearing consists of the annulus 108, which hasthe channel portion 106 and the lug 109 formed integral therewith andwhich is mounted upon the short sleeve east. on the end of the tubularportion 33 of the main frame. The annulus 108 rotates on this sleeve110, and the lever is held in any desired position of adjustment by thecustomary spring-latch 111, mounted on the left-hand side thereof andcooperating with the teeth 112 of the segmental ratchet 113, formed onthe outer end of the tubular portion 33 of the main frame. The wheel 31being mounted on the axle 32 immediately adjacent the sleeve 110 holdsthe parts in position, and the simple and inexpensive bearing for thistiltinglever is thus secured. The link 114 is pivotally connected to thelug 109 and to another lug 115, projecting upward some distance from theinner-shoe connection, so that it will be readily seen that as thetilting-lever is moved to any position of adjustment the shoe 94 will beadjusted to the desired angle.

As will be seen in Fig. 12, I provide a substantially rectangular lug116, projecting outwardly from the right-hand side of the tonguesupport37 and in this lug is formed a square aperture 117, which is adapted toreceive the square downwardly-proj ecting lug 118, formed on the underside of the lifting-crank support 119, which is shown detached in Fig.19. This lifting-crank support has the hollow cylindrical bearing-studformed thereon, upon which is journaled the hollow cylindrical axle 121of the lifting-crank 122, and this support 119 is also provided with thenotched segment 123, with which the springcatch 124 of the lifting-crankcooperates. A bolt 125, passing through the center of the bearing-stud120, cooperating with the washer 126, serves to secure the lifting-crankfrom lateral displacement. This lifting-crank is provided with thecustomary handle 127, which is conveniently located with reference tothe drivers seat, and a foot-lever 128 is also employed to cooperatewith this liftingcrank, this foot-lever, as will be best seen from Figs.10 and 16 to 18, being pivotally secured, as at 129, in a slot 130,formed in the arm 131 of the lifting-crank. The width and angles of thesides of the aperture are such that the foot-lever 128 has a certainamount of play relative to the lifting-crank, the play being desirableso that the foot-piece 132 can normally be in convenient reach of thefoot without having to give too great a curvature to the lever 128, soas not to interfere with the axle when the lifting-crank is swung to itsrearmost position, as shown in Fig. 10, by the hand-lever 127. In thenormal operation of these machines the foot-lever is used when it isdesired to merely lift the shoe and the finger-bar slightly withoutswinging the finger-bar from the horizontal, while the hand-lever 127 isbrought into play when it is desired to not only lift the shoe, but alsoto swing the finger-bar to the vertical position. (Shown inFig. 10.) Thelifting-crank is provided with the forwardly-projecting arm 133, whichterminates in the hook 134, to which is secured the connecting-link 135,which in turn is pivotally secured to the gaglever 136, which is of theshape best shown in Fig. 5 and which in turn has its lower end pivotallysecured to the short link 137, which in turn has its other end pivotallysecured to the arm 138 of the pivoted gear-segment 139, which is mountedupon a bearingstud 140, secured in the lug 141, projecting rearwardlyfrom the inner-shoe connection 79. The teeth of this gear-segment 139mesh with the teeth of the gear-segment 142,which is secured, as by thebolts 143, upon the eyelug 92, projecting upwardly from the rear portionof the shoe 94. The gear-segments 139 and 142 are provided adjacent totheir teeth with the flanges 144 and 144, respectively, which, as willbe seen from Fig. 21, cooperate with the teeth of the segments toprevent their lateral displacement. It will be evident that as theswinging gear-segment 139 is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig.20 the corresponding movement of the segment 142, fixed upon the shoewill cause it to rotate, and thus swing the shoe about the bearing-pins90 and 91 as an axis, until the finger-bar is carried into the verticalposition. (Shown in Fig. 10.)

The gag-lever 136 during the first part of the upward movement caused bythe action of the lifting-crank cooperates with a fulcrum-lug 145,formed upon the arm 138 of the pivoted gear-segment 139 until saidsegment is rotated sufficiently so that the power must be applieddirectly by lift through the gag-lever 136 and the link-137. It willalso be apparent that the farther down the outer end of the tinger-baris the more nearly the gag-lever 136 and the arm 138 tend to becomeparallel and increase the nearness to the end of the gaglever 136 of thepoint at which the fulcrum 145 cooperates with said lever, thus givingthe greatest leverage at the time when it is needed mostz'. a, when theweight of the finger-bar is most disadvantageously disposed and reducingthe leverage given to the gag-lever 136 when the weight of thefinger-bar is more favorably disposed.

The doubletrees 148 are pivotally secured in the yoke 147, formed in theblock 146, which in turn is pivotally secured, by means of the yoke 149,to the tongue 38 by the bolt 150. Above the bolt 150 is formed aneye-lug 151, through which passes an eyebolt 152, to which is securedthe customary strong coiled equalizing-spring 153, the other end ofwhich is hooked into one of the apertures 154, formed in the curved endof the link 155, the other end of which is pivoted to the arm 131 of thelifting-crank 122, as at 156. By reference to Fig. 6 it will be seenthat as the spring 153 is secured in one of the holes 154 nearer to orfarther from the end of the link 155 the spring will when the parts arein the normal position (shown in Fig. 6) act at a greater or lessadvantage upon the lifting-crank, tending to counteract the weight ofthe shoe and its connected parts, which is opposed thereto, thusenabling me by different adjustments to employ the same strength ofspring for difierent lengths of finger-bars. The action of these partswill be readily apparent, as it will be seen that when they are in theirnormal position (shown in Fig. 6) if it is desired to raise thecoupling-frame and the shoe and its connected parts slightly withoutturning the finger-bar suflicient pressure can readily be applied to theend of the foot-lever to accomplish this purpose, the hand-lever 127swinging idly over the unnotched portion of the segment 123. If it isdesired to lift the couplingframe and shoe and turn the finger-bar tothe vertical for transportation purposes, the handlever is seized andthe lifting-crank is swung backward until the parts are in the positionshown in Fig. 10, where they can be held by allowing the spring-plungerupon the handlever 127 to engage with the notch or shoulder 157, formedat the end of the segment 123. As the normal tension of the spring 153tends to swing the hand-lever 127 rearwardl y against the weight of thecoupling-frame and fingerbar to prevent any swinging of the hand-leverentirely back in case any accident should occur to release theconnections between the lifting-crank and the shoe, which accidentalmovement might work serious injury to the occupant of the seat, Iprovide the shoulder 158, which has the gentle incline 159 leadingthereto on the segment 123, and it will be apparent that if thehand-lever is thus moved back unintentionally its spring-plunger 124will contact with the shoulder 158 and prevent the hand-lever from goingback far enough to do any damage.

In order to automatically equalize so far as may be the draft upon themachine, I employ the draft-equalizing lever 160, which is of the shapebest shown in Figs. 1 and 6 and which has its uppermost end connected bythe link 161 to the lug 162, projecting downwardly from the tubularportion 33 of the main frame near the right-hand end thereof. The otherend has the eye 163 thereon, which is passed over the rod 78, previouslyreferred to as protecting the pitman, while substantially at its centralportion it has pivotally secured thereto the draft-link 164, the otherend of which is pivotally secured to the eye 165, formed on the rearside of the block 148. It will be apparent that as the coupling-framerises and falls or the stress upon the parts varies the end of theequalizing-lever 160 can slide along the rods 78 and the lever as awhole can tilt to any position that may be necessary to accommodate themachine to the varying conditions of its draft.

As will be readily perceived by reference to Fig. 6, the draft appliedto the doubletrees 148 will in part be transmitted through the link 164,equalizing-lever 160, and link 161 to the lug 162, secured to the underside of the frame, thus tending to turn the frame, and thereby raise thetongue, whereas the tendency of the action of the gear-drivingmechanism, as will be best seen from Fig. 2, is to lower the tongue,these two forces thus tending to equalize each other and hold the tongueautomatically in the natural draft position.

It is desirable in machines of this class to throw the sickle out ofaction automatically when the finger-bar is moved to a verticalposition, and to effect this result I secure the clutch-shifting yoke166, which cooperates with the annular groove 167 in the sliding clutchmember 55, to the sliding bar 168, which is secured in the bearingsformed where it passes through the main frame at 169 and in the bearingformed by the downwardly-projecting lug 170, through an aperture ofwhich the rod is passed. A helically coiled expanding spring 172surrounds the portion of the rod 168 between the bearinglug 170 and thecollar 17 3, formed on the rod, so as to normally hold the parts intheir clutched position. The outer end of the rod is pivotally securedto one end of the cam-lever 17 4, which is pivoted to the under side ofthe tongue-support, as at 17 5, and which has its free end 176 inposition to be struck by the cam-surface 177, formed on the outer end ofthe arm 181 of the lifting-crank 122, when said lifting-crank is swungto its rearmost position. The relative position and adjustment of thecam-surface and the cam-lever is such that the rod 168 is pulled to theright to unclutch the driving mechanism before the finger-bar is tiltedsufficiently to cause any binding of the pitman and the finger-bar. Whenthe lifting-crank is returned to its normal position, the spring 172acts to throw the clutch members together, so that as the machine moveson the sickle is thrown into operation again. If the driver leaves themachine and desires to throw the sickle out of operation without raisingthe finger-bar to a vertical position, I provide the cam-lever 178,which is pivoted to the lug 179, projecting upwardly from the collar178, through a slot 180, formed in the main frame of the machine. Thiscam-lever 178 is eccentrieally pivoted as to the curved body portion 181of the lever, so that when the lever is swung from the fullline positionof Fig. 5 to the dotted-line position of Fig. 11 the body portion 181 ofthe lever cooperating with the left-hand edge of the slot 180 will serveto slide the rod 168 to the right far enough to unclutch the machine,the parts remaining in this position until the lever 17 8 isintentionally thrown back to its normal position.

While I have shown the various features of my invention as embodied inthe form which I at present consider best adapted to carry out itspurposes, it will be understood that they are capable of modificationsin form and structure without departing from the spirit thereof and thatI do not desire to be limited in the interpretation of the followingclaims, except as may be necessitated by the state of the art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

1. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the coupling-frame, of thefinger-bar secured thereto by pivotal connections, said pivotalconnections comprising two bearings alined transversely to the length ofthe bar, one of said bearings consisting of an eccentric sleeve, andmeans for rotating said sleeve and securing it in any desired position.

2. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the coupling-frame, of thefinger-bar secured thereto by pivotal connections, said pivotalconnections comprising two bearings alined transversely to the length ofthe bar, one of said bearings consisting of a sleeve with an eccentricaperture therein, and means for rotating said sleeve and securing it inany desired position consisting of the flange 97 having the notchestherein adapted to cooperate with the lug 103 rigid with the finger-bar.

3. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the coupling-frame, of thefinger-bar pivotally secured thereto, a segmental gear secured to saidfinger-bar concentrically with its pivot, another gear meshing with saidsegmental gear and carried by said supporting member, and means formoving said last-mentioned gear comprising a pivoted arm having linkconnections with said last-mentioned gear, said link connectionsconsisting of the centrally-disposed gag-lever and the links connectingit to said arm and the gear respectively.

4:. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the coupling-frame, of thefinger-bar pivotally secured thereto, a segmental gear secured to saidfinger-bar concentrically with its pivot, another segmental gear havingthe lug 145 thereon meshing with said first-mentioned gear and journaledon the coupling member, and means for swinging said last-mentionedsegmental gear comprising a pivotal arm having link connectionstherewith consisting of the centrally-disposed gag-lever cooperatingwith said lug 145 on the gear and the links connecting it to said armand gear respectively.

5. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the lifting-crank havingthe arm 133, of the pivoted lifting member, as the segmental gear 139having the bearing-lug 145 and the arm 138 and pivoted to thecoupling-frame, and the link connections between the arm 133 and the arm138 consisting. of the link 135 secured to the arm 133, the gag-lever136 arranged to cooperate with the lug on the arm 138, and the link 137connecting the gag-lever and said arm 138.

6. In a mowing-machine, the combination of a hand-lever, a springcooperating therewith and constantly tending to throw said hand-levertoward the drivers seat, a segment adjacent to said lever and providedwith a notch consisting of an inclined surface leading to an abruptshoulder facing away from the drivers seat, and a plunger on saidhand-lever adapted to cooperate with said notch, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

7 In a mowing-machine, in combination a pivoted hand-lever havingaplunger, a-spring cooperating with said hand lever and con stantlytending to throw it toward the drivers seat, and a fixed segmentadjacent said lever and provided with two notches, one consisting of aninclined surface leading to the abrupt shoulder facing away from thedrivers seat, and the other having the abrupt shoulder opposed to theshoulder of the other notch.

8. In a mowing-machine, the combination of the frame having a slottherein, and having the axle mounted therein, with the drivingwheelsclutched on said shaft, a sliding clutch member splined on the axle, agear wheel mounted to rotate on said axle and having the fixed clutchmember secured thereto, a clutchshifting mechanism comprising a yokeengaging the sliding clutch member, a sliding bar connected to said yokeand mounted substantially parallel to the axle, a spring cooperatingwith the sliding bar, and means to hold the clutch members out ofengagement consisting of the cam-lever pivotally secured to the bar inabearing-lug and cooperating with the edge of said slot in the framethrough which said bearing-lug for the cam-lever reciprocates.

9. In a mowing-machine, the combination of the axle, with thedriving-wheels clutched thereon, a sliding clutch member splined on theaxle, a gear-wheel mounted to rotate on said axle and having the fixedclutch member secured thereto, a clutch-shifting mechanism comprising ayoke engaging the sliding clutch member, a sliding bar connected to saidyoke and mounted substantially parallel to the axle,

a spring cooperating with the sliding bar, a le- I ver pivoted to theframe and having one end connected with the sliding bar, and aliftingcrank pivotally mounted on the frame and having an arm thereonadapted to contact with the free end of the lever.

10. In a mowing-machine, the combination of the axle, with thedriving-wheels clutched thereon, a sliding clutch member splined on theaxle, a gear-wheel mounted to rotate on said axle and having the fixedclutch member secured thereto, a clutch-shifting mechanism comprising ayoke engaging the sliding clutch member, a sliding bar connected to saidyoke and mounted substantially parallel to the axle, a springcooperating with the sliding bar, a

lever pivoted to the frame and having one end connected with the slidingbar, a lifting-crank pivotally mounted on the frame and having an armthereon adapted to contact with the free end of the lever, a hand-leversecured to said lifting-crank and a foot-lever pivotally securedthereto.

11. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame having atubular bearing 39, and the coupling-frame secured thereto, of the shaft40 having the eccentric-disk 66 on the end thereof, the cup 61 securedto the end of the bearing 39 and having the channel 71 therein, and thesleeve 67 connected with the coupling-frame surrounding the shaft 40 andhaving the lug 70 cooperating with the channel 71.

12. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame having anangular socket 117 therein, of a lifting-crank-supporting membercomprising the angular lug 118 adapted to cooperate with the socket 117,the cylindrical bearing 120, and the notched segment 123.

13. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame having anangular socket 117 therein, of a lifting-crank-supporting membercomprising the angular lug 118 adapted to cooperate with the socket 117,the cylindrical bearing 120, a notched segment 123, and thelifting-crank mounted thereon comprising the bearing-sleeve 121 and thearms 127, 131 and 133, respectively.

14. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame having anangular socket 117 therein, of a liftingcrank supporting membercomprising the angular lug 118 adapted to cooperate with the socket 117,the cylindrical bearing 120, the notched segment 123, the lifting-crankmounted thereon comprising the bearing-sleeve 121 and the arms 127, 131,respectively, the cap-piece 126,and the bolt 125 passing through thecylindrical bearing 120.

15. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the frame having a tonguesecured thereto, of the block 146 pivotally secured to the tongue andcarrying the doubletrees, the spring 153 secured thereto above thepivot, the floating lever 160 slidingly mounted at one end so as to becapable of receding from and approaching the inner shoe connection, andthe links 161 and 164 pivotally connected at one end to the frame andthe block 146, respectively, and at the other end to the floating lever160.

16. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the frame having a tonguesecured thereto, of the block 146 pivotally secured to the tongue andcarrying the doubletrees, the spring 153 secured to said block above thepivot and having its other end connected to the frame of the 'machine,the pitman guard-rod 78 extending in front of the machine, the innershoe connection suitably supported from the frame and having the rod 78connected thereto, the

floating lever 160 having one end slidingly mounted on the rod 78, andthe links 161 and 164 each pivotally connected at one end thereof to theframe and the block 146, respectively, and at their other ends to thefloating lever 160.

17. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame, of thecoupling-frame secured thereto, the finger-bar pivoted to thecoupling-frame, the lifting-crank, connections between the lifting-crankand the finger-bar including the gag-lever 136, and means connecting thelever and the finger-bar, said means causing the lever to act as a leverduring the first part of the upward movement of the bar, and during thecontinued upward movement of the bar causing it to act as a link. I

18. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame, of thecoupling-frame secured thereto, the finger-bar pivoted to thecoupling-frame, the lifting-crank, connections between saidlifting-crank and finger-bar including the gag-lever 136, afulcrum-carrying arm pivoted on the coupling-frame and connected to thefinger-bar to move therewith, and a link pivotally connected to thegag-1ever and to the fulcrum-carrying arm, whereby the gag-lever bearson the fulcrum during the first part of the upward movement of the barand acts as a lever, and during the continued upward movement of the barthe lever moves outI of contact with the fulcrum and acts as a lin 19,In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame, of thecoupling-frame secured thereto, the finger-bar pivoted to thecoupling-frame, the lifting-crank, and connections between saidlifting-crank and fingerbar including a member pivoted on thecoupling-frame and cooperating with a fixed portion of the finger-bar,so that the finger-bar is raised as said member is rocked on its pivot,and having a projection 145 thereon, the link 137 connected to saidpivoted member, and the gag-lever 136 connected to said link 137 andadapted to cooperate with the projection 145 as a fulcrum as thefinger-bar is raised.

20. In a-mowing-machine, the-combination with the main frame, of thecoupling-frame secured thereto, the finger-bar pivoted to thecoupling-frame, the lifting-crank, and connections between saidlifting-crank and the finger-bar including the gear-segment secured tothe pivoted end of the finger-bar, the cooperating gear-segment pivotedon the couplingframe and having the projection 145 thereon, the link 137pivoted to said gear-segment, the gag-lever 136 pivoted to said link 137and adapted to cooperate with the projection 145 as a fulcrum, and thelink connecting the gaglever 136 with the lifting-crank.

21. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame, of thecutting apparatus pivotally secured thereto, a compensating spring, andconnections between both ends of said compensating spring and thecutting apparatus whereby the cutting apparatus is connected to saidcompensating spring at both ends thereof so as to be yieldinglysupported thereby.

22. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame, of thecutting apparatus pivoted thereto, the lifting-crank pivoted on the mainframe, the draft-supporting member movably connected to the tongue, thecompensating spring connected at one end to the lifting-crank and at theother end to the'draftsupporting member, connections between the cuttingapparatus and the lifting-crank, and connections between the draftsupporting mechanism and the cutting apparatus.

23. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame, of thecutting apparatus pivoted thereto, the lifting-crank pivoted on the mainframe, the draft-supporting member movably mounted on the tongue, thecompensating spring secured to the lifting-crank at one end and to thedraft-supporting mechanism at the other end, connections between thelifting-crank and the cutting apparatus, and connections between thedraft-supporting mechanism and the cutting apparatus including the link164: and the automatically-adjustable equalizing-bar 160.

24:. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame, of thecutting apparatus pivotally secured thereto, and draft apparatus forautomatically adjusting the draft between the main frame and the cuttingapparatus,said draft apparatus including the floating equalizing-barconnected at one end ultimately to the main frame and at the other tothe cutting apparatus and having a connection between its ends to thedoubletree.

25. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the main frame, of thecutting apparatus pivotally secured thereto, the draft-bar movablysecured to the tongue, the floating equalizing-bar, a link connectingone end of said equalizing-bar and the main frame, connections betweenthe other end of said equalizingbar and the cutting apparatus forautomatically varying the effective point at which the draft is applied,cutting apparatus, and asecond link secured at one end to the draft-barand at the other end to the equalizing-bar.

26. In a mowing-machinathe combination of a yoke, and a finger-barhaving separated relatively fixed attaching parts arranged one inadvance of the other and connected independently to the yoke, theconnection between the yoke and one of said attaching parts comprising apivot, and means movable relatively to the pivot for moving said one ofthe attaching parts laterally relatively to the other attaching part andthereby forcing the outer end of the finger-bar forwardly or backwardly.

27. In a mowing-machine, the combination of a yoke, a finger-bar havingseparated relatively fixed attaching parts arranged one in advance ofthe other, means for connecting the yoke to one of the attaching parts,and means for connecting the yoke to the other attaching partindependently of the former attaching part, said latter means comprisinga pivot and an adjusting member supporting the pivot and movablerelatively thereto for moving said other attaching part laterallyrelatively to the former attaching part and thereby forcing the outerend of the finger-bar forwardly or backwardly.

28. In a mowing-machine, the combination of a yoke, a finger-bar havingseparated relatively fixed attaching parts arranged one in advance ofthe other, means for connecting the yoke to one of the attaching parts,and an adjusting member pivotally connected to the yoke and to the otherattaching part for moving said other attaching part laterally relativelyto the former attaching part, and thereby forcing the outer end of thefinger-bar forwardly or backwardly.

29. In a mowing-machine, the combination of a yoke, a finger-bar havingseparated attaching parts arranged one in advance of the other,substantially horizontal pivots for connecting said attaching partsindependently to the yoke, said pivots being alined with each other, andmeans between one of the pivots and the corresponding attaching part forforcing the outer end of the finger-bar forwardly or backwardly withoutvarying the alinement of said pivots;

SAMUEL K. DENNIS.

Witnesses: Y

O. N. JoNEs, E. J. TAYLOR.

